Published Paper Details:

OBJECTIVES: ?To assess knowledge on radiation therapy induced skin reactions among attendants of cancer patients. ?To find out the association between level of knowledge on radiation therapy induced skin reactions with their selected socio - demographic variables. Materials and methods: Methodology: The research approach used for the present study was Cross-Sectional Descriptive Research Design. The sample of the study chosen by Non-Probability Convenient Sampling Technique, which includes 200 attendants of the Cancer patient of SVIMS, Radiation Oncology Out Patient Departments. A self structured questionnaire was used to collect the data which consists of 30 multiple choice questions. Results: The major findings of the study was out of 200 cancer patient attendants shows that 109 (54.5%) of patient attendants had moderate knowledge level, 53 (26.5%) of patient attendants had adequate knowledge level, 38 (19%) of patient attendants had inadequate knowledge levels on radiation therapy induced skin reactions. The associations of demographic variables with the level of knowledge on radiation therapy induced skin reactions determined by using chi-square test which revealed that there was a highly significant association with education, occupation, marital status, personal habits, having any skin diseases before radiation therapy and co-morbidity conditions. Conclusion: The study findings concluded that the patient attendants had moderate knowledge on radiation therapy induced skin reactions and need to develop skills and techniques on skin care management. The information booklet on side effects and its management of radiation therapy and therapy induced skin reactions had significantly favourable effect on knowledge of patient attendants regarding side effect management.